Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema told thousands of supporters outside the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday that once the judges ruled that President Jacob Zuma had breached the constitution the African National Congress (ANC) would have to recall him.

Malema said former President Thabo Mbeki was recalled after only one judge in KwaZulu-Natal made an adverse finding about his possible interference in a matter involving Zuma. He said in the EFF’s case against Zuma, the highest court in the land had a full bench of judges and any adverse finding should signal the end of Zuma’s presidency.

Thousands of EFF supporter dressed in signature red t-shirts listened to their leader after the business of the court had concluded.

Amid cheering and applause, Malema said if the ANC failed to recall Zuma the EFF would move to impeach the President in Parliament. He warned that if the ANC used its majority to defend him, the EFF would ask the Constitutional Court to impeach the President.

Although Zuma, through his lawyer Jeremy Gauntlett, made a spectacular u-turn on his position regarding the remedial action he was asked to take by the Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, the Constitutional court reserved judgement in the matter.

A full bench of 11 judges reserved its ruling on the EFF and Democratic Alliance application on whether the failure to comply with remedial action set out by the public protector constituted a breach of constitutional duties by Zuma and the National Assembly.

“Once you say he (Zuma) has violated the constitution, it means he is not fit to be the president,” said Malema.

The day’s proceedings saw Zuma, conceding and agreeing with the two political parties’ contention that Madonsela’s 2014 report on irregular spending during the course of a security upgrade at the president’s rural home was binding.

“His lawyer doesn’t explain why Zuma didn’t pay all along and changed today. He was laughing in parliament because he thought he is untouchable and now that they have realised he is a human, he must be subjected to the constitution,” said Malema.

The EFF leader said that people question why he and others had voted for Zuma to be president, to which he said it was a mistake that he was now correcting.